Coaster



April 4, 11.944.

WQLQQTT 2,345,784

GOASTEB Filed April l0, 1940 I I I rroP/vf'y Patented Apr. 4, 1944 omi-TED STATES PATENT oFFicE COASTER Frank E. Wolcott, West Hartford, Conn. j Application April 10, 1940, Serial No. 328,919

l Cl. 65-53) 4 Claims.

This invention relates to coasters for containers and, more particularly, to such as are lntended for use in connection with drinking glasses, bottles, cups or the like.

The primary object of the invention ls to provide a coaster that is easily attached to the container, pleasing in appearance and which includes means for collecting and retaining moisture, from the outer surface of the container and for preventing the said moisture from dripping during the use of the container.

A further object of the invention is to provide suitable means, for retaining a coaster attached to a container, so as to permit the construction of said coaster from a durable metallic material.

Further objects of the invention will be clearly understood from the following description and from the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a view, in central vertical section, of an improved coaster embodying my invention.

Fig, 2 is a plan view of the same in elevation.

Fig. 3 is a plan view in section, on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view, in central vertical section, illustrating a modified form of the invention.

Fig. 5 is a similar view illustrating the operation thereof in connection with a container.

Fig. 6 is a bottom view of Fig. 4.

As illustrated in the drawing, the numeral 5 denotes the body of my improved coaster which is preferably constructed of metal and in the form of a cup having a bottom 6 and a surrounding wall 'l within which isinserted a member 8 bf absorbent-material in the form of a disc.

A plurality of projections in the form of knobs 9 project inwardly from the wall l to engage the outer surface of a container I0, indicated in dotted lines, and thereby retain the said coasteil in detachably connected position relative to said container. The projections are also preferably provided with a flat gripping surface, to enhance the gripping qualities thereof against the surface of the container.

It will be noted that the upper edge of the wall l is scalloped, as at II, and that the knobs 9 are located at a level substantially even with the bottoms I2 of said scallop, at which level the said wall has a maximum degree of resiliency which permits flexing thereof to compensate for variations in the size of the container I 0 and assure a firm gripping action between the said projections and` the surface of the container.

As illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawing, it will be clearly seen that the projections 9 engage the outer surface of the containenlon a peripheral line, and that the portions of the wall 7, betweer the said projections, is slightly flexed and thereby provides radial adjustment of the projections, to conform with the diameter of the container at the point where it is engaged by the projections 9, and a resilient gripping action tending to retain the said container and member 5 relatively connected.

As the cup member 5 is slightly tapered downwardly and conforms with the taper in the container Il) the said container may be forced downwardly into the cup member until the bottom of the container engages the surface of the absorbent disc 8; the said downward movement of the container serving to wedge the same between the projections 9 and cause flexing of the portions of the wall, between said projections, to the position illustrated in Fig. 3.

The projections 9 are primarily provided to space the walls 1 of the coaster from the container Ill so that, any moisture which forms on the surface thereof, such as caused by condensation when a container is filled with cold liquids, may flow downwardly on the surface of the container, between the said wall and surface and onto the absorbent disc 8 which will absorb the said moisture and thereby prevent it from dripping on the user when the container and coaster are inverted as in drinking.

It will be clearly understood that the wall 'l of the coaster is substantially rigid in a vertical direction while, circumferentially, it is resilient to a sufficient degree to permit an adjustment o! the projections S against the surface of the container and thereby provide the proper iit of the coaster on the container to retain the same attached thereto and in contact with the absorbent member 8, as above described, irrespective of` minor variations in the sizes of the container l0.

In the modified form illustrated in Figures 4 to 6, my improved coaster is provided with additional means for more securely attaching the same to a container.

In this modified form, the coaster body S-a is provided with a. raised portion I3 having an opening therein, by means of which there is secured to said bottom a vacuum cup I4 which is mounted on a diaphragm I5; the said diaphragm being preferably connected to the raised portion I3 by means of a rim I6 having a peripheral groove to receive the edge portion around the said opening.

Extending from said rim, there is provided a resilient, upwardly projecting, ange I1 upon which is carried the absorbent member S-a which, in this modified form, has a central opening I8 to permit movement of the vacuum cup It therethrough. v

A vent plug I9,- preferably of rubber or other suitable material, is positioned within a vent opening 20, in said vacuum cup. and may be carried by means of a flexible strap 2l secured to the rim I6 by means of a staple 22, or in any uthersuitable manner.

In the use of the above described modified form of my invention, the container I is inserted into the body member E-a until it comes in contact with the impressions 9a. .At such a time, the container will have engaged the absorbent member 8-a, which is yieldingly retained against the bottom of the container by the flexible flange Il,-

as clearly shown in Fig. of the drawing.y The vacuum cup I4 is then forced upwardly, by pushing with a finger against the portion 2li of the plug I9, and thus, at the same time, forcing the c'up against the bottom of the container and the said plug into the vent opening 20; the said upward movement of the vacuum cup being permitted by stretching of the diaphragm I5, which is relatively thin and elastic and thereby permits a, sulcient movement of the vacuum cup to reach the bottom of a container in the member y5--a.

When the said cup has been rst pressed against the bottom of the container and then released, the vacuum formed within the cup will cause it to adhere to said bottom and the diaphragm I5 will pull the container downwardly and thereby retain it more securely in position within the coaster body -a and between the projections 9`-a. The resilient flange I'I will press the absorbent member 5-a against the bottom of the container, so that any moisture which might otherwise drip down, along the outer edge of the container, will be absorbed by said absorbent member.,

To detach the said container from the coaster,

in the modified form described, the vacuum cup I4 is released from the bottom of the container by simply pulling downwardly on the tab 23 to pull the plug I9 out of the vent opening 20 and thereby release the vacuum in said cup.

It is desired to have it understood that, while the said modied form is illustrated as comprising a specific form of retaining means, the resilient flange I1 may be substituted by a common form of spring member to keep the absorbent autres disc against the bottom of the glass and other modiications may also be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A coaster of the character described ccmprising a cup shaped member having a substantially thinsurrounding wall and rigid bosses extending inwardly from said wall to engage the surface of a container; the said wall being substantially resilient to provide circumferential exibility for permitting adjustment i of said bosses to the outer surface of the container and the said bosses being disposed in spaced relation on a line substantially on an equal level with portions of the edge of said wall.

2. A coaster of the-character described comprising a cup shaped member having a bottom, an upstanding peripheral wall of substantially thin metal, rigidbosses extending inwardly from the inner surface of said wall to engage the surface of a container for retaining it within said coaster and spaced from the said wall; said bosses being spaced on a line substantially on the same level with portions of the upper edge of said wall to cause exing of said wall between said bosses and to permit circumferential adjustment of said bosses to conform with the circumference of the container at the point of engagement therewith 3. A coaster of the character described comprising a body member having a bottom, an upstanding substantially resilient peripheral wall having rigid projections extending inwardly from said wall to engage the outer surface of a container and retain the same within said coaster spaced from said wall; portions of said projections being located above portions of the upper edge of said wall to permit the maximum degree of circumferential adjustment through the flexibility of said wall.

4. A coaster, for containers or the like, cornprising a cup-shaped member having a substantially thin surrounding wall with a' plurality of scallops along the top edge thereof, a rigid boss in each of said scallops extending inwardly therefrom to engage the outer surface of a container and retain the same withinsaid member and spaced from the said wall; the said scallops being substantially resilient to provide circumferential exibility for permitting adjustment of said bosses to the outer surface of the container.

FRANK E. WOLCOT'I. 

